President Muhammadu Buhari may effect a cabinet reshuffle at Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
The expected development would see some ministers booted out of the federal cabinet.
This may not be unconnected with the recent declaration by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Aisha Alhassan (Mama Taraba) that her loyalty lies with her “godfather” and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar.
According to reports, Atiku, in his reaction on Saturday backed the comments of Alhassan.
The former vice president, who recently said he was sidelined by the party after the 2015 general elections, said Alhassan’s declaration “couldn’t have been said any better”.
Atiku insisted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a coalition and that appointees have the right to keep their allegiance with whosoever they please.
Atiku, recently elevated to the Waziri of Adamawa, disclosed that even other Ministers in the cabinet have different views and opinions as regard the 2019 presidential election.
But indications emerged at the weekend that Buhari may strike back in a few days.
Although the president was said to have been contemplating a reshuffle of his cabinet, the “outright sack of ministers was in doubt”, a reliable source disclosed.
“You know PMB has not really been in the country this year; he might have reshuffled before now. But recent episodes have raised the question of how much appointees are committed to their job.
“But with the declaration by Mama Taraba, the president is likely to remove those he feels have underperformed as well as those who are not loyal.
“It is not really a hard task for him. He appointed all the security heads, so all he needs to do is give directive for reports of movements, meetings and calls made by his appointees”.
Calls to presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, went unanswered but presidential adviser on political matters, Femi Ojudu, informed newsmen he was not aware of any planned reshuffle.
“My brother I know nothing about that. I left Abuja four days ago. I am in Ekiti as I speak and will be back on Tuesday.
“If some people are saying that, I cannot confirm. So right now, I have no information about the speculation. I will be back on Tuesday, we can talk again then”.
Meanwhile, the National Working Committee of the APC will meet on Monday over Alhassan’s comment.
APC National Vice-Chairman, North-East, Mustapha Salihu, said, This is a national issue. I think by Monday, we will sit and we will address the matter, but I can assure you that there is no cause for alarm. Our party is intact and on ground”.
